Lughnasa.

As we head into August we remember the festival of Lughnasa, one of the great Celtic cross quarter festivals. A time to harvest the offerings from the land and hedgerows. A time to reap the rewards of our work in the garden. A time of abundance, of preserving the bounty and stocking up our larders for the coming Winter.

For as sure as night follows day the seasons are changing too. The wheel of the year continues…the cycle must be completed. Already some plants are starting to show Autumn hues…

 

 while others are still full of colour and vibrancy. But very soon they too will move onto the next phase of their yearly cycle. As all life on this planet must… 

Here in Ireland we awoke this morning to hear of the death of Meave Binchy, a wonderful author and journalist. At just 72 it seems she has been taken too early, but obviously it was her time. Meave was an amazing individual who despite having massive success, she sold 42 million books worldwide, remained a kind and warm hearted person. Always appreciative of her fans she treated each and every one as a cherished friend. She could teach us all a thing or two.  

Here in Arigna we are revelling in the abundance of produce from the garden. The Onions in the bed above will soon be ready for harvesting, hung in braids in the shed for use throughout the Autumn and Winter. The flowers are self seeders from the compost that was dug in here last Spring. I must remember to pull the Poppies out before they spread their multitude of seeds everywhere. There are lots of berries to be harvested this year. This is ongoing as they are ripening slowly  because of lack of sunshine. That makes it easier in a way as there is less urgency about the harvesting. Blackcurrants and Gooseberries have given great harvests. I freeze them in 1 kilo bags which is ideal for making small batches of jam and chutney. This produce, as well as being for our own use, forms part of our income as I sell it at local markets throughout the year. Something to keep me busy during the long dark days of the Winter.

I seem to be focused on the changing seasons this morning. The dull grey, windy day that it is is not helping the mood. What has happened to our Summers? I’m off now to light the stove and warm up the house. No berry picking today as I just can’t bear that wind which is surely going to bring us more rain later.

An eerie fog…

Weatherwise yesterday was a horrible day. From early morning it rained non stop. I managed to duck out any get some fruit and veg and give the dogs a quick walk but apart from that it was an indoors day. Just does’nt seem right to have to stay indoors in July. By seven in the evening the rain had stopped and everything was dead calm. A strange sort of evening. Eerily quiet, everything permeated by damp and then the fog appeared…

I noticed it first at about seven thirty. Sliabh an Iarainn (The Iron Mountain) is usually clearly visible and often bathed in evening sun at this time. Last evening it was almost obliterated by the low-lying fog.

The sky was beautifully streaked with shades of  pink to the east…

and also to the west.

The wispy fog came in from all directions.

Within a short time the whole valley was enveloped in the thick fog.  So quiet…

If you look closely you can just about see one of the wind turbines in this pic. I found it very eerie indeed. It very much reminded me of Hound of the Baskervilles…the 1939 movie starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes. Based on a book written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle  it’s a movie I’ve watched many times. Always found it soo scary. Is that a dog I hear howling in the distance!!!! I’m off indoors!!!

As July progresses…

everything is looking lush and green and fresh …a definite benefit of all that rain. The fedge we planted back in April has really taken off. Actually all the trees and shrubs have put on lots of growth this year. The weather has’nt been too bad the last couple of days. Grey and overcast still but not so much rain.

  The Mrs Perry apple tree planted almost 4 years ago has produced fruit for the first time. About 15 apples…looking forward to trying them. They are a dual purpose fruit.

At Mrs Perry’s feet Feverfew is in flower. A few leaves eaten every day is said to give relief from migrane. Thankfully I don’t get migranes… I do like it’s little daisy flowers though. It self seeds like mad. The purple leaved plant is Orach…a stray from the compost I think. It is edible and adds colour, if not much flavour, to salads.

By the garden gate Phygelius is in flower. One of my fave shrubs…commonly called Cape Fuschia…it is easily propogated by rooted suckers.

Here’s another one in the long border. There’s also a creamy coloured one which has just finished flowering. I shall be propogating more of these to spread around.

Fuschia is also in flower at the moment. I just love this little shrub which grows wild around here. It is another plant that is easy to propogate from cuttings.

In the hedgerows the Bramble is showing lots of flowers…a good Blackberry harvest looks likely. I just love Blackberries…combined with Granny Smith Apples to make the most delicious jam…lovely in tarts too. The joys of Autumn yet to come.

Don’t know what Freddie could smell as we came back from our walk. He stood like this for several minutes just sniffing the air…eyes closed. Cute!

Rainy days and climate change.

What’s happened to the weather? Not just in Ireland, but all over the world,  this year has broken records everywhere. The wettest Summer in the UK since 1860. Same in Ireland. In USA there has been  record high temperatures  resulting  in serious problems for agriculture. The end result will of course be food shortages and higher prices for available supplies. Today, 17th July, is a wet mizzly day here in Arigna. It should be Summer!!

There’s definitely a change in the climate worldwide. The Irish Summer now seems to be March, April and May. Wet and dull through until September when we get another blast of good weather. I was reading earlier how the wet Summer has disrupted the cafe culture in Paris. Can’t blame people for not wanting to sit out in the rain sipping coffee. This then has a knock on effect on businesses and livelihoods. Here in Ireland agriculture is in serious trouble. Farmers can’t make hay or silage and the grass is starting to rot in the fields. Potatoes will be expensive this year as the crops have started to rot in the earth. A bit of a doomsday scenario but that’s how it is. How anyone can deny climate change now is beyond me.

 I’m amazed that flowers are blooming despite the lack of sunshine. Sunday was a fab day but that’s been the only good day for weeks. These Lilies were in bloom today but they won’t last long if the rain continues.

Shasta Daisies hang their heads low, weighed down with rain…

 Rosa Ragusa looking similarly droopy. Of course there’s few insects to be seen. I was to be involved in the Butterfly count this year but there’s been few opportunities. What happened to all the Bumble Bees and Butterflies there were about in May I wonder?

In the micro climate of the polytunnel a solitary Bumble Bee enjoys a newly emerged Dahlia. Glad I planted these in pots indoors as I don’t think they would have done any good outside.

I also spotted a Green Veined White Butterfly on a Rose. Can you see it? There were a few more of these Butterflies about but that was all the insect activity I could see today. Mid July, the air should be filled with the sound of buzzing insects! So sad!

On a more positive note the Peaches are almost ripe, in the polytunnel of course. I test them by cupping the fruit in my hand and gently pulling. If ripe the fruit will come away. Another way to test for ripeness is to see if the flesh around the stem is soft. Test carefully though as Peaches bruise so easily. Another day or two to wait for this one.

The promise of a sunny Summer’s day.

Such a beautiful sunny Sunday morning greeted us here in the valley today. Very still and calm, not a leaf was stirring on the trees. Early morning sunshine casting dappled shade. The promise of a good day to come.

Beyond the trees the shrub border looks fresh and green. The early morning dew still on the leaves. In another hour this will be in full sun.

Daphne is out early too, she comes over and looks at me in a sort of puzzled way. Probably wondering what I’m doing… up and out and about so early. Such amazing growth with everything this year. Look how high the grass is in this field.

The Sycamore tree casts it’s shade over the steps to the chalet. The air is still… allowing the signing of the birds to be heard… crisp and clear…and beautiful.

The promise of a Summer’s day.

The gravel garden has taken well. Planted about a year ago everything is now starting to establish and spread. Sedums have done particularly well…I do love them. So easy to propogate and of course they are a real Butterfly magnet when they are in flower.

Lots of Succulents in pots too although some have jumped from the pots onto the ground below. I remember the walk through the bog in Tipperary collecting the Bog Oak for this little corner garden with my brother Tommy. Happy thoughts on a bright Summer morning.

Yes…all is well…everything is still…and calm…and green. We have the promise of a sunny Summer’s day…

In the polytunnels…

Despite the weather most things are doing well. This is the small polytunnel, the middle bed is planted with Carrots, with Garlic at each end to guard against carrot fly. Some self-seeded plants were also left to add a bit of colour, Borage, Orach and Poppies all came free in the garden compost.

One of the side beds is filled with Strawberry plants. They are almost spent now but this little Alpine Strawberry continues to give masses of small super sweet fruits. Not juicy like the big Strawberries but the flavour makes up for that.  It does’nt send out runners so all it’s energy goes into making fruits.

In the big polytunnel the Grapes are filling out nicely, should be a good crop by August. These are Black Hamburg, a dessert grape.

The first Tomato was ripe today from this hanging basket variety. Oh the smell! Delicious! The essence of Summer for me.

The first Courgette also presented itself today. Later than usual but most welcome. I suppose we will have a glut of them soon enough.

Peaches are starting to blush. Amazing how they are ripening really considering we had very little sunshine in June.

The plants in the little pond at the bottom of the polytunnel are doing well…Flowering Rush and Water Forget me Not planted last year have established nicely. The tadpoles are still there…no sign of them turning into Frogs yet!!

In praise of green…

Ireland is famous for it’s greenness…there is even an old song that mentions Ireland’s 40 shades of green. We may complain about our weather…all that rain can be wearing…but it is that very rain that makes Ireland the lush, green place it is.

Green is such an important colour…it is the colour most often accociated with Nature and being in the countryside. It is the colour of the heart chakra and is in the middle of the colour spectrum. It holds the balance between the red, hot end of the colour spectrum, and blue, the cold end of the colour spectrum.

Green is soothing and helps to reduce feelings of turmoil and negativity. Everyone feels better after a walk in a cool green forest.

Tourists are drawn to Ireland because of the slow pace of life here, away from the city anyway, maybe it is the predominance of green that helps people to chill out and have time to stop and chew the fat (chat). 

What can be more soothing to a person’s soul than gazing into the green canopy of a beautiful tree…even if the sky behind is grey!

Green food is full of vitamins and minerals which help to keep our bodies in balance. “One of the causes of heart disease is a diet low in the antioxidant vitamins C and E and beta-carotene. Green leafy vegetables are a particularly rich source of these.” Secrets of Colour Healing by Stephanie Norris.

The old adage “Eat your greens” was very sensible advice indeed…

Elephants in Drumshanbo!!

Imagine my shock as I drove through Drumshanbo, our nearest town, yesterday, when my eye was caught by some large animals in the Market Yard. As I screeched to a halt…I realised I was’nt wandering in some crazy dream. There were 5 elephants to be seen!

Yes! You’ve guessed it…a Circus had come to town for 2 days. Now I’m not a big fan of Zoos or Circuses but these Elephants were beautiful.

One could’nt help but stop and admire their beauty. Gaze into that little eye within such a huge body and wonder…are they happy…are they well treated?

They drew quite a crowd. People were stopping, looking, rushing home for the children, taking pics or rushing to get their cameras. The Elephants seemed to enjoy the attention and they put a smile on everyone’s face. I did wonder about the safety issues but who am I to spoil the fun.

What big feet they’ve got!

That poo would be great for the garden!

Some people got close enough to feed them. The shops did ok as all the kids were running off to get Apples and Bananas for the Elephants. So there you have it…the day the Elephants came to Drumshanbo. I won’t be attending the Circus but I did enjoy getting so close to these beautiful creatures.

Even the Rainbows are low…

After having had pretty good weather in March, April and May it seems that June was the wettest since 1860. I do think that the south of the country had it worse though. Every time I rang my Mother it seemed to be raining heavily there, yes, we have had rain too, but it’s only the last 2 weeks that have been monsoon like. That’s climate change I suppose, some places getting less rain while we get more. If it continues in this vein more growing will have to be done indoors in polytunnels, in Ireland anyway. The overcast skies are quiet depressing and heavy. A rare patch of blue sky yesterday evening had me rushing out with the camera to capture it!

It darkened again almost immmediately and this rainbow which bridged Corry and Sliabh an Iariann appeared. Not the usual high arch to this one. Very squat and low lying. Have’nt seen one this low before. Even the rainbows are affected by the low cloud!! Does’nt the countryside look beautifully fresh and lush though…one benefit of all that rain.

In the garden flowers are doing surprisingly well. I don’t like this dark leaved Lysmachia, actually I thought I’d removed all of it, but I have to admit it makes a good pairing with this peachy pink Lupin. Maybe it’s saved itself!

Lady’s Mantle and Catmint, two plants I really like, they look good together. I have to admit I’m a trial and error gardener. I bung everything in, cottage garden style, if it really does’nt work I’ll just move plants in the dormant season. I know some people swear by plans and charts but not for me. Lots of self seeders are left to prosper too. I don’t have the heart to remove them.

The wild Dog Rose is almost finished now…

each fallen petal leaving a temporary love message for all to see.

On the lane…

July 1st is here and walking on the lane with the dogs this morning it almost had an Autumn feel. All the rain has kept everything lush and green. But then that’s what people love Ireland for…the forty shades of green.  I’ve never met anyone who came here for the good weather.

The lane is a 3 mile long cul-de-sac. We live about 2 miles along. There are lots of other houses on the lane so it’s not as isolated as it would initially seem.

Berries have already set on the Hawthorn, adding to the Autumnal feel. In his book Food for free, Richard Mabey, says : “When fully ripe they taste a little like avacado pear. They make a moderate jelly, but being a dry fruit need long simmering with a few crab apples to bring out all the juices and provide the necessary pectin. Otherwise the jelly will be sticky or rubbery. It is a good accompaniment to cream cheese.”

I think this arrangement of Ferns, Hawthorn, Moss and Foxgloves looks lovely. Nature does it better than any garden designer. A passing Sheep has made a contribution to the scene. Diarmiud Gavin eat your heart out! No multi-coloured monstrosities needed here!

Maybe the wool was from this Mama who thinks she is invisible as she sits quitely in the long grass.

“Hey Mama, I think they can see you.”

Foxgloves are playing a blinder this year…so many of them. Gorgeous!

Lettie likes to drink from the puddles on the lane. In their water bowls in the house we always add Citricidal, which is good for eliminating internal parasites. Given the choice she always goes for the pure unadulterated rain water.